Tubing hanger



March 21, 1933.

J. Hf HOWARD 1,902,075

2 Sheet led April l0, 1951 March 21, 1933. J H, HOWARD 1,902,075

TUB I NG HANGER Filed April 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwucntoa JAmis HHow/m0.

61am was Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES H.HOWARD, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO J. H. MCEVOY 8: COMPANY, OF

HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION TUBING- HANGER Application filed April 10,

The invention relates to an improvement in tubing hangers Which areparticularly adapted for use in connection with oil, gas and waterwells.

In obtaining the liquid from the well it is often desirable to have astring of tubing supported inside of the outer casing in such a mannerthat it will be properly suspended but at the same time removable. It isalso 10 desirable that this string of tubing be suspended at a positionbelow the other fittings on the casing head and in such a position thatit may be placed by insertion through some of the other fittings whichare already in position on the well before the tubing is inserted.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a tubing hanger havingextensible members thereon which are adapted for extension at the timethe hanger is placed adjacent the seat from which it is to be suspended.

Another object of the invention is to provide in combination with acasing head a tubing hanger having extensible means thereon to engagethe casing head.

Another object of the invention is to pro' vide a tubing hanger and aset of supporting dogs thereon, whichsmay be moved to an extendedposition by wires which are removable from the tubing hanger after thedogs have been moved to extended position.

Another object of the invention is to position a tubing hanger withinthe casing head by insertion through the fittings carried by the casinghead and to anchor the hanger in the casing head by extensible means. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide in combinationwith a tubing hanger a means for centralizing the same in its positionin the casing head.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an enlarged housingfor a tubing hanger so that there will be no restriction of 45, the flowarea past the tubing hanger.

1931. Serial No. 529,025.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tubing hangerwhich does not cause a wedging or expanding action against the casingbut which seats upon a shoulder and a stop member in connection with thetubing hanger so that its position will be accurately determined.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent whenthe following description is considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a broken sectional view showingone form of the hanger construction, which is seated on a nipple or ontop of the casing.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional View of another form of theinvention showing the combination of the tubing hanger the centralizersand the enlarged housing for the hanger.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing a cas ing head assembly of the typeto which the present invention may be applied.

By having reference to the diagrammatic View of Fig. 5, a casing isindicated at 2, which casing may extend an indefinite distance into thewell. Such casings usually serve to support the formation wall and arecemented or otherwise anchored in position so that they will support thevarious fittings which are to be mounted thereon. In the presentinstance a gate valve 3 is shown as connected above the casing, a nipple4 and a I retractor mechanism 5.

These fittings may be assembled in any relation desired or otherfittings may be used depending upon the condition and location of thewell. Extending above the fittings 3, 4 and 5 is the Christmas tree 6,which may be provided with any desired number of flow lines 7. Extendingdownwardly from 90 may be the upper the Christmas tree is the tubing 8,which extends into the well. The retractor 5 may be provided for thepurpose of separating the upper portion of the tubing 8 from thatportion of the tubing string which extends below the Valve 3. In anyevent the present invention is intended to disclose the idea ofsupporting the string of tubing in the casing 2, as best seen in sectionin Figs. 1 and 3.

Fig. 1 shows a coupling or nipple 10, which end of the casing 2 or itmay be a nipple which is connected to the casing 2 either directly or bymeans of an additional coupling which is not shown. This nipple 10 maybe threaded at 11 to receive the flange 12 of the lowermost fitting. Asseen in Fig. 5 this is the gate valve 3 and the invention will bedescribed in connection with a valve of this type, but it is to beunderstood that this valve 3 may be a blowout preventer or any otherpiece of'mechanism which is used on a casing head. The upper end of thenipple 10 is indicated at 13, and serves as a seat for the tubinghanger. This seat may be specially formed to receive the tubing hangeror it may be of usual construction, but it is adapted to receive thedogs 14, which are provided with an outstanding shoulder 15, which isarranged to seat on the end 13 of the nipple or casing.

The tubing hanger, as seen in Fig. 1, includes a body portion. 17, whichmay be threaded either internally or externally and is illustrated ashaving been" threaded externally as at 18 to receive the sections oftubing which are to be suspended thereby and extend into the well. Theouter face of the body 17 is formed with grooves 19 in which the dogs 14are adaptedfor sliding movement. These grooves 19 are shown as inclinedoutwardly and upwardly so that as the dogs 14 move upwardly they will beextended until they reach a maximum position when they abut against thestop lugs 20. The arrangement for attaching the dogs is best seen inFig. 2 Where the dove-tailed tongue 21 is shown as sliding in the groove19. Two of these dogs have been illustrated which are positioned on adiameter of the hanger body 17. When the dogs are in the lowermostposition in the grooves 19 they will be contracted so that the diameterof the outer face 22 will be less than the inside diameter 23 of thenipple or casing on which they are to seat. The stop lugs 20 may be ofany desired construction but are preferably securely anchored to thebody 17 as the entire thrust on the hanger will come against them and itis desired that they be rigid so that they will not be bent or sprungwhen subjected to heavy weights. These lugs have been shown as havingbeen inserted in recesses 24, formed in the sides of the body 17. Theselugs are preferably held in position by a body of welded material 25,which reenforces and supports them so that they may take the thrust ofthe slips or dogs 14. The lugs 20 are outstanding beyond the peripheryof the body 17 so that a considerable area I 26 will be provided as anabutment for the slips 14.

The present hanger construction is particularly adapted for use when thestring of tubing connectlon at 18 is to be lowered into the well bybeing inserted through the fitting 3 and possibly other fittings such as4 or 5. In lowering the tubing into position the sections are connectedtogether and lowered into the well. When the last section has beenpositioned the upper end of this section when finally placed will be atan elevation slightly below the top of the casing 2 and below thefitting 3. It is therefore necessary to use a setting tool or some otherimplement for lowering the string of tubing to its final or anchoredposition. In order to accomplish this, the inside of the body 17, shownin Fig. 1, is threaded at 27. A setting tool which may comprise athreaded piece of pipe will be connected at 27 and the elevator or othermechanism attached thereto after the hanger has been attached at 18 tothe string of pipe. With the parts thus connected the dogs 14 will be intheir lowermost and contracted position in the grooves 19. It ispreferable that the outside diameter of this tubing hanger be less thanthe inside diameter of the casing 2 or the nipple 10 in which it is tobe positioned so that it may be lowered into the casing in order to setthe dogs 14 in position. This lowering operation is preferablyaccomplished by positioning the hanger slightly lower than the elevntionseen in Fig. 1 so that the dogs or jaws 1.4 will be down inside of thenipple 10. In order to move the slips 14 to extended position varioustypes of devices maybe used such as rotatable spiral cams or extensiblemeans of any sort which will be operated either upon rotation, raisingor lowering of the tubing hanger with respect to the structure in whichit is to be positioned. The threads 27 are preferably of the samediameter and pitch as the threads 18 so that any piece of pipe may beused as a setting tool.

Another form of operating the slips 14 has been shown in Fig. 1 andincludes a wire or other flexible line 30. This line may be of anydesired length so that it will extend above the fittings which arecarried by the casing, when the hanger is adjacent the elevation atwhich it is to be positioned. This line 30 may terminate in a connectingwire 31, which extends through the opening or passage 32 in the slips14. This wire 31 may have an enlarged or bent-over portion 33 thereonwhich is arranged to engage against the outer face 34 on the slip. Thisenlarged, or bentover portion 33 is so formed and constructed that whena pull is exerted on the line 30 the wire 31 will raise the dogs 14.Thus when the tubing hanger is positioned adjacent the elevation atwhich it is to be seated a pull may be exerted on the line 30 so thatthe jaws 14 will be moved upwardly in the groove 19. If the outer face22 is within the diameter 23, the jaws, of course, can not move upwardlybeyond that position and the hanger will then be raised slightly and theoperator Will be advised when the slips 14 move over the top of thenipple or casing due to the fact that the wire 30 will give slightly andif he is attentive he may also hear the slips click over the top of thepipe. When these jaws have been moved to their maximum extended positionthey will abut against the face 26 on the ring 20 and the hanger maythen be lowered slightly so that the shoulder 15 will contact with theseat 13 and the tubing will be anchored in its proper position. Theweight of the tubing in the well is then placed on the hanger byreleasing the support of the setting tool which has been connected tothe hanger.

After this weight has been placed on the hanger additional force may beapplied to the wire line 30 so that a pull is exerted upon the flexiblemember 31. It is intended in this manner that the enlarged portion 33will be either deformed or severed from the end of the connecting member31 so that the wire 30 and the connecting member 31 will be en'- tirelyremoved from the jaw 14. This enlarged portion 33 may be bent over sothat the additional pull will tend to shear it by contact with the face34 or it may be formed so that it will straighten out and pass upwardlythrough the opening 32. In order to determine that all of the wire hasbeen removed from the aw the lower portion thereof may be painted orotherwise colored or formed so that when the operator withdraws the samefrom the well he will be advised by observing the painted portion thathis wire has not broken off at some elevation higher than that near theend thereof.

When the hanger is to be removed from the well it is merely necessary toinsert a setting-tool for connection to the threads 27 and lift the samefrom its seat. The force of gravity will obviously cause the jaws 14 toslide downwardly in the groove 19 or if the tongue does not slide thejaws are so constructed that they will abut against any portion of thefittings they will be caused to move to contracted position so that theywill not interfere with removal of the hanger.

It is intended that the tapered seat 36 may be formed in the body 17 soas to receive the retractable section of tubing in event a retractor 5is used; This surface 36 may be threaded for connection of a section oftubing in the usual manner if desired, or it may be formed to receiveany particular type of connection carried by the retractible section oftubing.

The tubing hanger 17, as seen in Fig. 2, carries a plurality ofoutstanding flanges 37, which are in the nature of centralizers in orderto position the hanger centrally of the casing 2. Four of thesecentralizers have been shown in Fig. 2, but it is intended that anydesired number may be used. 'It is also intended that various formsof'manipulating the slips 14 may be resorted to as this invention isintended broadly to cover any manner of manipulating these slips toextend them for seating upon the supporting structure.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a modified form of the assembly in which the hangerbody is illustrated at 40 and is provided with grooves 19 to supportthe'dogs 14 and also is provided with the stop lug 20 which is held inposition by the welded material 25 in the same manner as seen in theFig. 1 modification. The dogs, however, are positioned on the body 40 insuch a manner that when they are in their maximum extended position thepassage 32 will be beneath the outer periphery of the stop lug 20, sothat an additional passage 42 is provided through the stop lugs and thewelded material to'allow insertion and removal of the connecting members31. Such structure is not absolutely essential, however, as it seemsobvious that this passage 32 can be formed adjacent the outer edge ofthe jaws 14 and need not pass through the stop lugs 20.

Below the hanger 40 in the Fig. 3 modification a centralizer 43 has beenprovided which may be in the nature of a short section or nipple whichcarries the centralizer flanges 44. These centralizers are provided toinsure the proper positioning of the hanger so that each of the jaws 14will be assured of a seat to support the same. They may or may not beprovided as desired.

In Fig. 3 the aws of the slips 14 are shown as seated on a shoulder 45which is formed on an enlarged housing 46. This housing is enlarged sothat the cross sectional area 47 at the side thereof will provide asuflicient passage for the flow of fluid which will at least equal thearea between the tubing below the hanger and the casing 2. This enlargedchamber 47 thus. does not serve as a restriction for the flow of fluiddue to the presence of the hanger and the slips 14, but due to itsenlarged area permits a free flow of fluid so that there will be nocutting or abrasive effect due to restriction of flow. It has been foundthat this cutting and abrasion occurs primarily where a restriction offlow is caused and by providing the enlarged area the normal flow iscontinued and no excessive cutting away of the parts occurs. It isintended, however. that the jaws 14 may seat on the upper end of thecasing 2, as seen at 48, if desired.

Ill

. shown as connected to the housing 46 by means of threads 51, but it isto be understood that this may be a flange or any other type ofconnection. The operation of the wire lines to position the jaws 14 isthe same in connection with the Fig. 3 modification as it is inconnection with the structure shown in Fig. 1. The threads 18 have beenshown as outside of the body so that they will receive the upper end ofa coupling on the tubing section and are preferably of the same size asthe threads 27.

It is intended in practicing the invention that operation of the dogs 14may be accomplished in any manner so that they may be moved to extendedposition after the hanger has been passed through the fittings and to anelevation adjacent the seat on which the jaws or slips are adapted toland. The particular advantage of this construction is the fact that theslips 14 do not cause a wedging action which tends to burst the casingor nipple in which they are seated. Various types of pipe hanger havebeen devised heretofore in which the hanger was arranged to contact thecasing on a tapered surface so that the hanger was wedged in positionand when an enormous force was placed upon the tubing the hanger wouldtend to burst the casing or nipple in which the hanger was seated.However, with the present construction there will be a direct verticalthrust on the slips 14 which will be carried by the stop lugs 20 andthereby transmitted to the tubing hanger. This is of advantage becausewhen removal is to be accomplished the hanger is not wedged in positionbut can be readily removed by merely elevating the same. The slips willmove then to contracted position so that the device may be withdrawnthrough any type of fitting which has a diameter equal to the inside ofthe casing of the well. It is intended that in operating the slips 14they may be either pushed or pulled into extended position after thetubing has been inserted in the casing.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with;a tubing head assembly a hanger body, slipson-said body, a Well casing, means to inove said slips to extendedposition to seat on said casing, said means to move said slips toextended position being releasable from said slips by a direct upwardpull upon said means.

2. In combination with a tubing head assembly a hanger body, slips onsaid body, a well casing, means to move said slips to extended positionto seat on said casing, said means to move said slips to extendedposition being manually removable from said slips by a direct upwardpull upon said means.

3. A tubing hanger to support a tubing in a well casing including, abody threaded at opposite ends to be coupled within a tubing string, adownwardly-presented stop member on said head, a slip movable upwardlyand outwardly to contact against said member and form a support, ashoulder upon said slip, and a shoulder on said casing to be engaged bysaid slip to hold said tubing.

4. A tubing hanger to support a tubing in a well casing including, abody threaded at opposite ends to be coupled within a tubing string, adownwardly presented stop memberion said head, a slip movable upwardlyand outwardly to contact against said member and form a support, meansto elevate said slip to supporting position releasable by an upward pullthereon, a shoulder upon said slip, and a shoulder on said casing to beengaged by said slip to hold said tubing.

5. A tubing hanger including a downwardly tapered head, a slip slidablethereon, stop lugs in said head to limit the upward movement of saidslips, and a shoulder on the outer face of said slip to engage a supportfor said head.

6. In combination a well casing, a housing thereon, a tubing in saidcasing, a downwardly tapered head on said tubing in said housing, a stopmember secured on said head at the upper end thereof, a slip slidable onsaid head to an expanded position against said stop member, a shoulderon said slip and a supporting ledge in said housing to be engaged bysaid shoulder.

7'. In combination a well casing, a housing thereon, a tubing in saidcasing, a downwardly tapered head on said tubing in said housing, meanson said head to center said head in said housing, a stop member securedon said head at the upper end thereof, a slip slidable on said head toan expanded position against said stop member, a shoulder on said slipand a supporting ledge in said housing to be engaged by said shoulder.

8. In combination a well casing, a housing thereon, a tubing in saidcasing, a downwardly tapered head on said tubing in said housing, a stopmember secured on said head at the upper end thereof, a slip slidable onsaid head to an expanded position against said stop member, a shoulderon said slip and a supporting ledge in said housing to be engaged bysaid shoulder, said housing being enlarged adjacent said head to allowfree passage of fluid around said tubing head.-

9. A casing, a fitting, means connectin said casing to said fitting, ashoulder on sai connecting means; a tubing in said casing, a; headthereon Within said connecting means, supporting means on said headnormally retractable to allow said head to move with in said casing whensaid tubing is raised or 10 lowered, and means to advance saidsupporting means to engage upon said shoulder releasable therefrom by anupward pull on said advancing means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 11th day ofMarch, A. D.

JAMES H. HOWARD.

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